Gasol a bright spot for Lakers heading into 2013-14 season

Time slowly passed as teammates and coaches eventually left the Lakers’ practice facility.

But Pau Gasol stayed longer, spending more than an hour in the training room following Sunday’s practice in hopes of ensuring a healthy 2013-14 season.

A cause for concern? Hardly.

Gasol finished the Lakers’ training camp as a huge bright spot, averaging a team-leading 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists through eight preseason games as the team’s focal point in the post. A season removed from missing a combined 33 games because of a variety of ailments in his knees and right foot, Gasol provided a positive assessment on his health.

“I feel better than what I expected,” Gasol said. “I’m really happy with how I feel right now.”

Dwight Howard’s departure to the offseason with the Houston Rockets set up Gasol to have more of a post presence. But his added effectiveness goes beyond that.

“I get more comfortable within the offense because I’m in better rhythm, getting better looks and I can pick and choose my shots and decisions,” Gasol said. “Everything flows more naturally. It’s not forced.”

Staying limited

After trying to find the right balance between preserving his health and building his rhythm during the month-long training camp, Lakers guard Steve Nash could make another step this week in exercising more caution.

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said “it’s very possible” Nash will sit out the team’s road game Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors a night after starting in the Lakers’ season opener Tuesday against the Clippers in a designated home game at Staples Center.

“It’s hard to make a definitive answer right now because when one of my other point guards tweaks his ankle, he’s playing,” D’Antoni said. “If another point guard has the sniffles, he’s playing. We’ll see how the other team goes and we’ll see where we are in the schedule and where we are in the standings.”

Lineup mix

Lakers forward Chris Kaman appeared in his first practice Sunday for the first time since staying sidelined all of last week because of a stomach virus. He plans to play in the season opener, but will he start?

“Whether I start or come off the bench, I think each game will be a different situation,” Kaman said. “Some teams go big and some teams go small. I have to continue to try to work with the guys and try different lineups in games and practice.”

The Lakers are expected to start Shawne Williams at power forward after starting the past two preseason games during Kaman’s absence.